OhioCanDo4Kids

The Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH)/Help Me Grow (HMG) Maternal Depression Screening Program (MDSP) was originally developed by Dr. Amy Heneghan at Case Western Reserve University in late 2004 and transferred in July 2006 to Dr. Frank Putnam at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC). The project originally consisted of two main components: 1) a maternal depression awareness training for health professionals serving mothers and children; and 2) a pilot project to evaluate the feasibility of large scale screening for maternal depression by Help Me Grow workers in 7 pilot counties in Ohio (Columbiana, Cuyahoga, Lorain, Lucas, Mahoning, Muskingum, and Scioto). Since its inception the pilot has transformed into a fully functioning maternal depression screening program consisting of 17 counties in Ohio (Ashland, Athens, Clark, Clermont, Columbiana, Fairfield, Hancock, Hocking, Lorain, Lucas, Mahoning, Muskingum, Scioto, Trumbull, Union, Vinton, and Washington Counties). In 2010 the project will be expanded to include additional counties in Ohio with the likelihood that the project will go statewide (88 counties) in the future.

If you would like additional information on the Maternal Depression Screening Program, please contact Lisa Connelly, Project Manager, at 513-636-0041 or Send Email.

For a full description of the program see the attached file listed below.

Current Ohio counties participating in the project include:
1) Ashland County
2) Athens County
3) Clark County
4) Clermont County
5) Columbiana County
6) Fairfield County
7) Hancock County
8) Hocking County
9) Lorain County
10) Lucas County
11) Mahoning County
12) Muskingum County
13) Scioto County
14) Trumbull County
15) Union County
16) Vinton County
17) Washington County

The program involves Help Me Grow workers administering the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) to mothers as part of their standard services. Mothers scoring in the clinical range (greater than or equal to 12) on the EPDS are referred to a county mental health provider, who, in turn, arranges for further evaluation and treatment of the mother.

A web-based data system is utilized by HMG Service Coordinators to enter EPDS screening information and make facilitated mental health referrals within their counties. Data is analyzed and shared with program participants. The database allows better communication between Help Me Grow and Mental Health around services provided to Mothers and Children in each county.

Based on experience with this project, screening will be expanded to additional counties in the future. Ultimately, this project will inform us about the rates of maternal depression and how to better assist this population.